Process for preparing optically active epoxides

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a process for the production of optically active epoxides useful as pharmaceutical intermediates, particularly in the field of HIV protease inhibitors. The optically active epoxides are produced in commercially acceptable yields from an optically active alcohols by a Mitsunobu reaction and a cyclisation step, preferably comprising an intermediate re-crystallisation step. The stereochemistry of the alcohol is inverted during the Mitsunobu reaction to produce the desired epoxide.

This application is a 371 of PCT/GB01/04146 filed Sep. 18, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns a process for producing optically active epoxides, particularly those epoxides which are useful as pharmaceutical intermediates

There are a number of potential pharmaceutical products which contain the following optically active grouping:

The enantiomer (2S, 3R) of this grouping may also be useful in pharmaceutical compounds. The grouping is derivable from the epoxide of equivalent stereochemistry, in the case of the (2R, 3S)-grouping, the (2R, 3S)-epoxide:

where Boc is a butoxycarbonyl amine protecting group.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

EP-A-0885879 describes a process for producing optically active cyanohydrins, particularly an optically active N-(protected)-3-amino-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyronitrile which comprises treating a mixture of diastereomers of an N-protected)-3-amino-2-bydroxy-4-Aphenylbutyronitrile in the presence of an amine and an organic solvent. The optically active compound is said to be an intermediate in the production of certain pharmaceutical compounds.

EP-A-0934923 describes a method for producing optically active erythro-3-amino-2-hydroxybutyric esters comprising oxidising the hydroxyl group at the 2-position of an optically active (at the 3-position) 3-amino-2-hydroxybutyric ester and then reducing erythro-selectively the resulting product using alubnum alkoxide. The resulting optically active compound is said to be a pharmaceutical intermediate, specifically for HIV protease inhibitors.

WO-A-99/38855 describes a process for producing optically active threo-3-amino-1,2-epoxy compounds comprising subjecting an optically active threo-3-amino-1,2-diol to allkylsulphonylation or arylsulphonylation in an organic solvent in the presence of a base to give the corresponding optically active threo-3-amino-2-hydroxy-1-sulphonyloxy compound and subjecting the resulting compound to epoxidation in the presence of a base to give the corresponding optically active threo-3-amino-1,2-epoxy compound.

WO-A-00/10986 describes a process for the preparation of (2R,3S)-3-amino-1,2-oxirane comprising treating a (2S,3S)-3-amino-1-halo-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutane or a (2S,3S3-amino-4-phenylbutane-1,2-epoxide either with a quaternary ammonium carboxylate or with both a metal carboxylate and a quaternary ammonium salt to prepare a (2S,3S)-1-acyloxy-3-amino-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutane, treating this compound with a sulphonyl halide in the presence of an organic base to prepare a (2S,3S)-1-acyloxy-3-amino-2-sulphonyloxy-4 phenylbutane and subjecting the compound thus obtained to treatment with an inorganic base. It is said that this process allows the production of intermediates for HIV protease inhibitors using L-phenylalanine as a raw material.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,936,104 describes a process for producing (2S,3S)- or (2R,3R)-1,2epoxy-3-amino-4phenylbutane derivatives comprising treating a 1-halo-2-hydroxy-3-amino-4-phenylbutane derivative with a base in an aprotic polar organic solvent or a mixed solvent composed of an aprotic polar organic solvent and water and then causing the resulting epoxide to crystallise out from a mixed solvent composed of an aprotic polar organic solvent and water. The resulting compound is said to be useful as an intermediate in the production of various HIV protease inhibitors as described, for example, in Japanese Kokai Publication Hei-08-109131.

WO-A-95/08530 describes a process for producing 3-amino-2-hydroxy-1-propanol derivatives which are said to be useful as intermediates in the production of medicines.

JP9323960 describes a method for obtaining 3-amino-1,2-oxirane by using a 3-amino-1,2-diol as a raw material. The process comprises reacting an N-(protected)-3-amino-1,2-diol with an orthoacetate or orthoformate in the presence of an acid catalyst to form an alkoxyalkylidene. The alkoxyalkylidene is reacted with a halogenating agent to form an alkoxy halide which is then treated with a base and converted to an epoxide, thus obtaining the 3-amino-1,2-oxirane.

WO-A-97/42180 describes a process for preparing oxiranemethanamine derivatives, which are said to be usefull as intermediates for preparing aspartyl protease inhibitors, comprising the steps of activating an aminodiol, acylating the aminodiol and reacting the acylated aminodiol with a base to form an epoxy compound.

The processes and methods described in these documents all suffer from one or more of the following disadvantages: they do not describe methods of synthesising 2R,3S-epoxides or their enantiomers; their stereochemistry is unclear; they use expensive or difficult to obtain reagents; they describe complex reaction procedures with numerous stages; they describe low product yields; the products described are insufficiently pure for use as pharmaceutical intermediates; they relate to laboratory scale processes and are of unproven or uncertain value on a commercial scale; or they are commercially unattractive for other reasons.

The academic literature describes various methods of synthesising 2R,3S-epoxides but these also suffer from one or more of the aforesaid disadvantages or disclose mixtures of epoxides with other stereoisomers. Examples of such academic literature include Ojima et al, Tetrahedron Letters 39 (1998) 923-926; Barrish et al, J. Med.Chem. 1994, 37, 1758-1768; Romeo and Rich, Tetrahedron Letters, 35 (1994) 4939-4942; Luly et al, J.Org.Chem. 1987, 52, 1487-1492; Evans et al, J.Org.Chem. 1985, 50,4615-4625 and Parkes et al, J.Org.Chem. 1994, 59, 3656-3664.

Other attempts to find commercially acceptable routes to the 2S,3S- and 2R,3S-epoxides have been made recently by Malik, whose work in this respect was detailed at the 3rd International Conference “Organic Process Research and Development” organised by Scientific Update on 10-12 July 2000. However, the yields for individual steps described are poor (about 53%) and toxic and/or expensive chemicals, such as cesium acetate and 18-crown ether, are used.

There remains a need in the art for an improved process for the production of optically active epoxide pharmaceutical intermediates.

According to the present invention there is provided a process for producing an optically active (2R, 3S)-epoxide of the general formula (1):

or its enantiomer wherein each of R₁ and R₂ is independently selected from hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or alkaryl groups, and amine-protecting groups and R₃ is selected from hydrogen and optionally suitably protected alkyl, cycloalky, aryl, aralkyl or alkal groups which comprises conducting a Mitsunobu reaction on an optically active (2S,3S)-alcohol of general formula (2):

or its enantiomer wherein X is a leaving group and R₁, R₂ and R₃ are the same as the corresponding R₁, R₂ and R₃ in formula (1) and cyclising the resulting Mitsunobu product

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The Mitsunobu process has been known since 1967 (Mitsunobu and Yamada in M.Bull.Chem.Soc.JPN. 1967, 40, 2380-2382) and was later described in 1991, the general reference being Mitsunobu, Synthesis, 1981, 1-28. This document described intermolecular dehydration reactions between alcohols and acidic components on treatment with diethyl azodicarboxylate and triphenylphosphine in which virtually complete inversion of the configuration of the alcoholic hydroxy group takes place. The Mitsunobu process was reviewed by Hughes, Org.Reac. 1992, 42, 335. Mechanistic studies of Mitsunobu chemistry have been described by Camp and Jenkins in J.Org.Chem. 1989, 54, 3045-3049, Varasi et al in J.Org.Chem. 1987, 52, 4235-4238 and Hughes et al in J.Am.Chem.Soc 1988, 110, 6487-649. The effect of the acidic component in Mitsunobu chemistry has been described by Martin and Dodge in Tetrahedron Letters, 1991, Vol. 32 No. 26, pages 3017-3020, by Dodge et al in J.Org.Chem. 1994, 59, 234-236 and by Hughes and Reamer in J.Org.Chem. 1996, 61, 2967-2971. Examples of industrial processes utilising Mitsunobu chemistry are described by Thomas et al in Organic Process Research and Development 1997, 1, 294-299 and by Marzoni et al in Synthetic Communications, 25 (16), 2475-2482 (1995). Reference to the use of a Mitsunobu reaction for the synthesis of substituted piperazinones can be found in WO-A-00/01678.

A preferred process according to the invention, comprises recrystallising the Mitsunobu reaction product prior to cyclising. R₃ is preferably a group selected from hydrogen and optionally substituted alkyl, cycloaukyl, aryl, arallcyl and alkaryl groups. The group is preferably protected where it contains free oxygen, nitrogen or sulphur, which may react with reagents used in the Mitsunobu reaction.

The leaving group X is any suitable leaving group and is preferably selected from halogens, sulphonate esters and trialkyl ammonium groups.

One reaction scheme according to the invention may be summarised as follows:

Estenification Step

The esterification step preferably comprises treating the compound of formula (2) with a phosphine and an azodicarboxylate under acid conditions to form an intermediate ester of formula (3):

wherein X, R₁, R₂ and R₃ are the same as the corresponding X, R₁, R₂ and R₃ in formula (2) and R₄ is an optionally nitrogenated alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or alkaryl group.

Suitable phosphines include trialkyl- and triaryl phosphines such as triphenylphosphine, tributylphosphine and methyldiphenylphosphine. Triphenylphosphine is preferred. Polymer bound triphenylphosphine as disclosed in J. Org. Chem, 1983, 48, 3598 may also be used, as may bis(diphenylphosphine)ethane disclosed in Tetrahedron Letters, 1998, 39, 7787.

Suitable azodicarboxylates include diisopropylazodicarboxylate (DIAD), diethylazodicarboxylate (DEAD) and di-tert-butylazodicarboxylate (DTBA). DIAD is preferred.

Suitable acids include carboxylic acids such as acetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid and para-nitrobenzoic acid (PNBA). PNBA is preferred.

Suitable solvents for the esterification are aprotic solvents including benzene, toluene, chlorinated hydrocarbons, ethyl acetate and water miscible solvents including tetrahydrofuran, dimethoxyethane and dioxane. Toluene and tetrahydrofuran are preferred. Suitable solvents for crystalisation of the esterified product include low boiling alcohols, optionally in admixture with water. Ethanol/water mixtures are preferred.

Recrystallisation Step

The recrystallisation step is preferably effected from an ethanol/water mixture and is conducted to remove minor contaminants of triphenylphosphineoxide, DIAD-H2 and of 2S,3S-ester from the 2R,3S-ester (or 2R, 3R-ester from the 2S, 3R-ester in the enantiomerically equivalent process of the invention).

Cyclisation Step

The cyclisation step preferably comprises treating the recrystallised intermediate ester with an aqueous base. Suitable bases include alkali and alkaline earth metal hydroxides and quaternary ammonium or phosphonium compounds. The 2R,3S-ester intermediate can be saponified and cyclised by, for example, working up in ethanol and an aqueous base such as potassium hydroxide. Phase transfer conditions can also be employed using an aqeuous base, a water immiscible solvent, such as toluene or a chlorinated hydrocarbon, and a suitable catalyst, such as a quaternary ammonium or phosphonium salt.

The alcohol of formula (2) may be obtained by known routes (e.g. J. Org. Chem. 1994, 59, 3656) from amino acids and synthetic amino acids. One preferred starting material for obtaining the 2R, 3Sepoxide is L-phenylalanine. A preferred starting material for obtaining the 2S, 3R-epoxide is D-phenylalanine. In the process of the invention, the alcohol is preferably a haloalcohol, even more preferably a chloroalcohol.

The amine protecting group is preferably butoxycarbonyl or benzyloxycarbonyl.

The invention will now be more parxicularly described with reference to the following examples.

EXAMPLE 1

A 3 (protected) amino4-phenyl-1-chlorobutan-2-ol was esterified according to the following reaction scheme:

Reagents 100% Reagents Mass Strength Strength MW Moles Eq. Source 2S,3S chloroalcohol 30.0 g 96.9% 29.1 g 300 0.097 1.0× Synthesised according 2S,3S to J. Org. Chem. 1994, 59, 3656 DIAD 24.6 g 95% 23.4 g 202 0.116 1.2× Aldrich PO 06304DR Triphenylphosphine (TPP) 30.6 g 99% 30.3 g 262 0.116 1.2× Aldrich 60707009 p-Nitrobenzoic acid 20.2 g 98% 19.8 g 167 0.119 1.2× Aldrich (PNBA) 07117HU Toluene 1200 ml >99% 1200 ml 92 — — BDH 30454 Ethanol 450 ml Absolute 450 ml 85 — — Hays DEB100 Water 180 ml Towns 180 ml 18 — — Towns Ethanol/Water 100 ml Absolute/ 1:1 — — — Hays DEB 100/ Towns Towns

Procedure

A 2L flange necked flask was equipped with an overhead mechanical stirrer (paddle), thermometer, pressure equalised dropping funnel and nitrogen blanket. The flask was charged with 30.0 g of the chloroalcohol of formula (2) and 1200 ml of toluene to form a slurry. 30.6 g of TPP and 20.2 g of PNBA were then added and the mixture stirred at 18-20° C. 24.6 g of DIAD was dripped into the flask over a 5 min period, resulting in an exotherm to 25° C. Once all the DIAD had been added, stirring was continued for 2 hr to give a yellow solution. This solution was transferred to a rotary evaporator and the bulk of the toluene was distilled at approximately 100 mbar and 60° C. The residual yellow oil was taken up in 450 ml of ethanol and the solution was heated to 70° C. 180 ml of water were added in portions maintaining a temperature of >65° C. Care was taken, by means of gradual addition of the water over ten minutes, during water addition to prevent oiling of the product. The solution was cooled to 50° C. and seeded with product to induce crystallisation. The slurry was cooled to 10° C. with the bulk of the product crystallising at 45-50° C. The product was filtered through Whatman 54 paper and the cake was washed with 100 ml of ethanol/water mixture at 0-5° C. and dried under vacuum at 200 mbar, at 50-60° C. for 18 hr to furnish 31.0 g (i.e. a 71% yield) of product as fine white needles. A second crop of crystals (1.2 g, giving a total yield of 74%) was isolated from the mother liquors. The product was analysed by thin layer chromatography (one spot pure) and ¹ H nmr which showed essentially clean product with trace impurities of triphenylphosphine oxide and DIAD-H2 (both estimated at <0.5%).

Example 2

The reaction scheme of Example 1 was followed but using a THF solvent instead of toluene.

Crude 100% Chemical Mass/Vol Strength Strength MW Moles Molar Equiv Source/Lot 2S, 3S, 100.0 g 97.7% LC 98.0 g 300 0.327 1.0× Synthesised chloroalcohol according to J. Org. Chem 1994, 59, 3656 THF 500 ml >99% 500 ml 72 — — Petrochem 16/03 pre- sample TPP 103.8 g 99% 103.8 g 262 0.392 1.2× PCL 00722 PNBA 66.1 g >99% 65.6 g 167 0.392 1.2× PCL 00728 DIAD 83.4 g 95% 79.2 g 202 0.392 1.2× Schwizerhall 292-210-3288 Ethanol 600 ml Absolute 600 ml 46 — — Shell 982437- 18 Water 600 ml Towns 600 ml 18 — — Towns Ethanol:water 2 × 500 ml 1:1 84 ml — — — As above

Procedure

A 1L flange necked flask was equipped with an overhead mechanical stirrer (paddle), thermometer, pressure equalized dropping funnel and nitrogen blanket. The flask was charged with 2S, 3S Boc-chloroalcohol (100.0 g). THF (500ml) was added to form a slurry (KF 0.0805%). TPP (103.8 g) and PNBA (66.1 g) were sequentially added to the slurry and the slurry was stirred at 18-25C. DIAD (83.4 g) was dripped in via the dropping funnel over 20 min (4.2 g/min) maintaining the exotherm at 18-20C. On full addition, stirring was continued at between 18-20C for 2 hr when the slurry had dissolved up to an olive coloured solution. The solution was quenched into ethanol (600 ml) over 35 min (40 g/min) with stirring at 18-20C resulting in crystallization of product. The slurry was then stirred for 60 min at 5-10C. The slurry was filtered (54 μpaper), 150 mm diameter, vacuum 700 mbar, cake depth 40 mm, filtration time 14 m30 s) and the cake washed with 1:1 ethanol:water (2×500 ml). The solid was dried on the filter overnight to give 119 g of 14.5% KF solid, dry weight equivalent 102.3 g. 99.0% area % HPLC, 69% molar yield.

EXAMPLE 3

The esterified product of Example 1 or Example 2 was recrystallised as follows.

Reagents

100% Reagents Mass Strength Strength MW Moles Eq. Source 2R, 3S 29.8 g 99% 29.7 g 449 0.0663 1.0× From Example 1 Nitro ester (assumed) Ethanol 300 ml Absolute 300 ml 85 — — Hays DEB 100 Water 80 ml Towns 80 ml 18 — — Towns Ethanol/water 100 ml Absolute/ 1:1 — — — Hays DEB 100/Towns Towns

Procedure

A 1L flange necked flask was equipped with overhead mechanical stirrer (paddle) condenser, thermometer and nitrogen blanket The flask was charged with 29.8 g of ester and 300 ml of ethanol and heated to 70-75° C. until the ester was fully dissolved. Water was added in portions (causing turbidity) maintaining a temperature of >70° C. On full addition of the water the solution was heated for a further 10 min to give a pale yellow solution. The solution was cooled to 60° C., seeded with the product to induce crystallisation and slowly cooled to 10° C. over a period of 1 hr with the bulk of the product crystallising at 45-50° C. After stirring for 30 min at 10° C. the slurry was filtered through Whatman 54 paper and the cake was washed with 100ml of ethanol/water mixture at 0.5° C. and dried under vacuum at 50-60° C., 200 mbar for 18 hr to give 28.8 g (a 97% yield) of product as fine white needles. Thin layer chromatography analysis and ¹H nmr demonstrated that the ester was uncontaminated with triphenylphosphineoxide and DIAD-H2 impurities.

EXAMPLE 4

The recrystallised, esterified product from Example 3 was cyclised according to the following reaction scheme:

Reagents

100% Reagents Mass Strength Strength MW Moles Eq. Source 2R, 3S Nitro 30.0 g 100% 30.0 g 449 0.0668 1.0× Example 2 ester (assumed) Ethanol 1020 ml Absolute 1020 ml 85 — — Hayman B100 KOH/water 125 ml 0.15 g/ml 18.8 g 40 0.47 7.0× Aldrich MS09811ES Water 1000 ml Towns 1000 ml 18 — — Towns MDC 700 ml LC grade 700 ml 92 — — Baker 9930020017 Citric acid 300 ml 5% 15.0 g 192 0.078 — Plant NaHCO₃ 300 ml 5% 15.0 g 84 0.178 — Aldrich 8116018 Water 300 ml Towns 300 ml 18 — — Towns

Procedure

A 3L flange necked flask was equipped with an overhead mechanical stirrer (addle), thermometer, pressure equalised dropping funnel and nitrogen blanket. The flask was charged with 30.0 g of ester and 1020 ml of ethanol to form a slurry.

The slurry was cooled to 0-5° C. and 125 ml of KOH solution were added over a 5 min period maintaining the temperature at <5° C. On full addition the reaction was monitored by HPLC and was complete after 3 hr. The reaction was quenched with water (1000 ml), stirred for 5 min and extracted twice with MDC (once with 500 ml of MDC and then once with 200 ml of MDC). The combined organic extracts were washed with 300 ml of 5% citric acid, 300 ml of 5% NaHCO₃ and 300 ml of water. The product solution was dried in the presence of anhydrous sodium sulphate, filtered and concentrated on a rotary evaporator at 50° C. from 50-85 mbar to give 17.7 g (i.e. >95% yield) of a clear oil that slowly solidified on refrigeration, having a melting point of 49° C. The isolated product was >99% pure by area HPLC with no 2S,3S diastereomer observed. ¹H nmr of the product confirmed the structure.

EXAMPLES 5 to 14

The following table shows summary procedures and results of further esterification reactions according to the invention. Unless otherwise specified, the procedures and conditions were similar to those mentioned above in Example 1.

Input Example chloroalcohol Scale Reagent charge Procedure Work-up Estimated Purity Yield 5 98.3% 2S, 3S 2.0 g Toluene 70 ml Add DEAD Concentrate to oil then 98% (nmr) 78% 0.7% 2R, 3S DEAD 1.2× over 1 min then stir at column chromatography PPh₃ 1.2× 20° C. for 2 hr PNBA 1.2× 6 96.3% 2S, 3S 2.0 g Toluene 100 ml Add DIAD Concentrate to oil then 98% (nmr) 82% 2.2% 2R, 3S DIAD 1.2× over 1 min then stir at column chromatography PPh₃ 1.2× 20° C. for 2 hr PNBA 1.2× 7 98.3% 2S, 3S 8.0 g Toluene 250 ml Add DEAD Concentrate to oil, dissolve in 95% (nmr) 48% 0.7% 2R, 3S DEAD 1.2× over 1 min then stir at ethanol (100 ml) then Trace OPPh₃ PPh₃ 1.2× 20° C. for 2 hr crystallise PNBA 1.2× 8 96.3% 2S, 3S 10.0 g Toluene 250 ml Add DIAD Concentrate to oil, dissolve in 95% (nmr) 67% 2.2% 2R, 3S DIAD 1.2× over 5 min then stir at ethanol (100 ml) then Trace OPPh₃ PPh₃ 1.2× 20° C. for 2 hr crystallise (2 crops) PNBA 1.2× 9 96.3% 2S, 3S 5.0 g Toluene 200 ml Add DIAD Concentrate to oil, dissolve in 98% (nmr) 75% 2.2% 2R, 3S DIAD 1.2× over 5 min then stir at ethanol (75 ml) then water Trace OPPh₃ PPh₃ 1.2× 20° C. for 2 hr added (300 ml) at 70-80° C., DIAD-H2 PNBA 1.2× cool and crystallise contamination 10 96.9% 2S, 3S 30.0 g Toluene 1200 ml Add DIAD over 5 min Concentrate to oil, dissolve in 98% (nmr) 67% 0.8% 2R, 3S DIAD 1.2× then stir at 20° C. for 2 hr ethanol (450 ml) then water Trace OPPh₃ PPh₃ 1.2× added (200 ml) at 70-80° C., DIAD-H2 PNBA 1.2× cool and crystallise contamination 11 98.8% 2S, 3S 60.0 g Toluene 2400 ml Add DIAD over 10 min Concentrate to oil, dissolve in 98% (nmr) 74% 0.9% 2R, 3S DIAD 1.2× then stir at 20° C. for 2 hr ethanol (900 ml) then water Trace OPPh₃ PPh₃ 1.2× added (360 ml) at 70-80° C., DIAD-H2 PNBA 1.2× cool and crystallise contamination 12 97.8% 2S, 3S, 25.0 g Dimethoxyethane Add DIAD over 10 min Add reaction mixture to 98% (nmr) Trace 72% 08.% 2R, 3S 250 ml DIAD Then 2 hr stir it 20° C. ethanol (200 ml) and water OPPh3 and 1.4×, PPh3 1.4×, (200 ml), filter resulting solid DIAD-h2 PNBA 1.4× contamination 13 97.7% 2S, 3S, 25.0 g Tetrahydrofuran Add DIAD over 20 min Add reaction mixture to 90% (nmr) 68% 1.0% 2R, 3S 125 ml DIAD Then 2 hr stir at 20° C. ethanol (220 ml) and water Residual TPPO 1.2×, PPh3 1.2×, (300 ml), filter resulting solid PNBA 1.2× 14 97.7% 2S, 3S 1.0% 100 g Tetrahydrofuran Add DIAD over 20 min Add reaction mixture to 99.0% (HPLC) 69% 2R, 3S 500 ml DIAD Then 2 hr stir at 20° C. ethanol (600 ml) and water 1.2×, PPh3 1.2×, (600 ml), filter resulting solid PNBA 1.2×

EXAMPLES 15 to 17

The following table shows summary results of further examples of the recrystallisation step according to the invention. Unless otherwise specified, the procedures and conditions used are similar to those specified above in connection with Example 3.

Example Input Ester Input Quality Scale Reagent Charge Procedure Estimated Purity Yield 15 From Example 5 Trace OPPh₃ 2.3 g 23 ml ethanol Heat to dissolve, Free of impurities 74% and DEAD-H2 cool and filter. by nmr contamination Thick mixture CHN fits by nmr 16 A blend Trace OPPh₃ 14.7 g 147 ml ethanol Heat to dissolve, Free of impurities 78% and DEAD-H2 cool and filter. by nmr contamination Thick mixture by nmr 17 From Example 11 Trace OPPh₃ 65.7 g 600 ml ethanol Heat ester in Free of impurities 95% and DIAD-H2 160 ml water ethanol to dissolve, by nmr contamination then add water at by nmr 70-75° C., cool and filter

EXAMPLES 18 to 23

The following table shows in summary form further examples of the cyclisation step according to the invention. Unless otherwise specified, the procedures and conditions are similar to those specified above in connection with Example 4.

Ex- am- ple Input Ester Scale Reagent charge Procedure Work-up Estimated Purity Yield 18 Recrystallised 200 mg Ethanol 25 ml Add aqueous KOH to ethanol Neutralise with citric acid and >99% 79% ester KOH 30× slurry of the ester. Monitor reaction concentrate on RFE. Dissolve 2R, 3S by LC. progress by LC. Complete after 1 hr in MDC, acid base wash, dry No 2S, 3S isomer at and concentrate to oil that observed. 0-2° C. solidifies on refrigeration Pure by nmr 19 Recrystallised 5.0 g Ethanol 200 ml Add aqueous KOH to ethanol slurry Neutralise with citric acid and 0.8% OPPh₃ 88% ester KOH 7× of the ester. Monitor reaction concentrate on RFE. Dissolve 98.9% 2R, 3S progress by LC. Complete after in MDC, acid base wash, dry 0.2% alcohol 3.5 hr at 0-2° C. and concentrate 20 Isolated ester 3.0 g Isopropanol Add aqueous KOH to slurry of the Neutralise with citric acid and 7.6% imp 74% from Example 9 120 ml ester. Monitor reaction progress by concentrate on RFE. Dissolve 82.4% 2R, 3S KOH 5.0× LC. Complete after 3.5 hr at 0-2° C. in MDC, acid base wash, dry 9.52% imp and concentrate 21 Recrystallised 3.0 g Ethanol 120 ml Add aqueous KOH to ethanol slurry Neutralise with citric acid and 99.8% 2R, 3S 95% ester from KOH 7× of the ester. Monitor reaction concentrate on RFE. Dissolve 0.1% alcohol Example 9 progress by LC. Complete after in MDC, acid base wash, dry 3.5 hr at 0-2° C. and concentrate 22 Recrystallised 25.0 g Ethanol 1000 ml Add aqueous KOH to ethanol slurry Neutralise with citric acid and 0.4% 2S, 3S or >95% ester from KOH 7× (105 ml) of the ester. Monitor reaction concentrate on RFE to half OPPh₃ Example 17 progress by LC. Complete after 3 hr volume. Dissolve in MDC, 99.6% 2R, 3S at 0-2° C. acid base wash, dry and concentrate 23 Isolated ester 25.0 g Ethanol 1000 ml Add aqueous KOH to ethanol slurry Neutralise with citric acid and 1.0% 2S, 3S or >95% from Example 10 KOH 7× (105 ml) of the ester. Monitor reaction concentrate on RFE to half OPPh₃ progress by LC. Complete after 3 hr volume. Dissolve in MDC, 99.6% 2R, 3S at 0-2° C. acid base wash, dry and concentrate 

What is claimed is:
 1. A process for producing an optically active (2R, 3S)-epoxide of the formula (1):

or its enantiomer wherein each of R₁ and R₂ is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, and alkaryl groups, and amine-protecting groups, and R₃ is selected from hydrogen and optionally suitably protected alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl and alkaryl groups, said process comprising subjecting an optically active (2S,3S)-alcohol of formula (2):

or its enantiomer, wherein X is a leaving group, to a Mitsunobu reaction to obtain a Mitsunobu reaction product and cyclising the Mitsunobu reaction product to form an optically active (2R,3S) epoxide of the general formula (1), the stereochemistry of the optically-active (2S,3S)-alcohol or its enantiomer being inverted in said Mitsunobu reaction.
 2. The process of claim 1, further comprising recrystallising the Mitsunobu reaction product prior to cyclising.
 3. The process of claim 1 is wherein the compound of formula (2) is reacted with a phosphine and an azodicarboxylate under acid conditions to form an intermediate ester of formula (3):

wherein R₄ is an optionally nitrogenated alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or alkaryl group.
 4. The process of claim 2, wherein the compound of formula (2) is reacted with a phosphine and an azodicarboxylate under acid conditions to form an intermediate ester of formula (3):

wherein R₄ is an optionally nitrogenated alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or alkaryl group.
 5. The process of claim 3, wherein the phosphine comprises triphenylphosphine.
 6. The process of claim 3, wherein the azodicarboxylate is diisopropylazodicarboxylate.
 7. The process of claim 5, wherein the azodicarboxylate is diisopropylazodicarboxylate.
 8. The process of claim 3, wherein the acid conditions are provided by a carboxylic acid.
 9. The process of claim 5, wherein the acid conditions are provided by a carboxylic acid.
 10. The process of claim 6, wherein the acid conditions are provided by a carboxylic acid.
 11. The process of claim 8, wherein the carboxylic acid is paranitrobenzoic acid.
 12. The process of claim 1, wherein said Mitsonubo reaction takes places in the presence of a solvent comprising at least one of toluene and tetrahydrofuran.
 13. The process of claim 2, wherein said step of recrystallizing takes place in a recrystallizing solvent comprising ethanol and water.
 14. The process of claim 2, wherein said cyclization is effected by a base, following said step of recrystallizing.
 15. The process of claim 14, wherein said base comprises aqueous KOH and said cyclization takes place in ethanol.
 16. The process of claim 1, wherein said amine protecting group is butoxy/carbonyl.
 17. The process of claim 1, wherein said optically active (2S,3S)-alcohol is a haloalcohol. 